Resilient type shoe tree for open heel type shoes



April 2, 1957 c. MOSES 2,737,013

RESILIENT TYPE SHOE TREE FOR OPEN HEEL TYPE SHOES Filed Dec. 20. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3/0 F162 FIG.4

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CHARLES MOSES ATTORNEY April 2, 1957 c. 0555 2,787,013

RESILIENT TYPE SHOE TREE FOR OPEN HEEL TYPE SHOES Filed Dec. 20. 1955 2 Sheets-Shut 2 WWW MW 1 i L 1 M1 INVENTOR.

CHARLE '5 MOSES ATTORNEY United States Patent RESILIENT TYPE SHOE TREE FOR OPEN HEEL TYPE SHOES Charles Moses, Long Beach, N. Y. Application December 20, 1955, Serial No. 554,252 4 Claims. (Cl. 12-115.8)

This invention relates to shoe trees and is a continuation-in-part of my patent application Serial No. 390,902, filed November 9, 1953.

Broadly, it is an object of the invention to provide an inexpensive shoe tree which is light in weight and upon which a single shoe may be placed and which will retain the shoe in its original form without stretching or crushing the shoe or distorting it in any way due to the gentle resiliency of the various membranes of the shoe tree.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a shoe tree which is easy to insert within the shoe and easy to remove from the shoe without scraping the inside of the shoe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe tree which can accommodate many sizes of shoes.

Other objects have been mentioned in my prior application mentioned aforesaid.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a shoe tree for a single shoe.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the shoe tree shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the shoe tree shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the shoe tree shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through line 5-5 of Fig. 1, the shoe tree being partially broken away.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken through line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the shoe tree shown in Fig. 1 showing the shoe tree on an open heel shoe shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 8 is a top view of a modified shoe tree like the shoe tree shown in Fig. 1, showing the end of the long central membrane, partially broken away, and terminating in opposed flexible arcuate membranes for engaging the heel of the shoe.

Fig. 9 is a top view of still another modified shoe tree and Fig. 10 is a side view thereof.

Referring to Figs. 1 to '7, inclusive, numeral 310 represents a shoe tree comprising a longitudinal membrane 311, a toe portion 316 having two opposed side membranes 312 and an upper membrane 313. The longitudinal membrane 311 has a sole engaging base portion 314 at the fore end and terminates in a shank portion 315 which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of the sole engaging base member 314. The shank 315 is serpentine in form terminating in a free end 317. Within the outer curve of the free end 317, there is a thickened portion 318 which is serrated and presents a longitudinally straight line with a horizontally curved face to receive and retain the back strap of an open back shoe or properly seat itself within the heel of a shoe.

The entire shoe free 310 is formed of a single piece of material which is preferably of molded plastic. Of

2,787,013 Patented Apr. 2, 1957 "ice course, metal or wood, or like materials may also be used and formed as shown. It may also be possible to weld or rivet the membranes together.

The upper and side membranes 313 and 312, respectively have outer curved surfaces to conform to the inner curvature of the shoe and the side membranes 312 are slightly thickened towards their free ends, as shown in Fig. 6 for somewhat greater resiliency and are curved inwardly at the ends to permit easy withdrawing of the shoe tree without marring the inside of the shoe. The free ends of the upper and side membranes, 313 and 312 have a certain degree of gentle resiliency which exert a slight pressure upon the inner portions of the shoe causing the shoe to retain its original shape without stretching or distorting the shoe. The upper membrane 313 presses upwardly against the upper forward last portion of the shoe while the side membranes 312 press outwardly against the sides of the forward last portion of the shoe. The sole portion 314 exerts a pressure upon the toe sole portion of the shoe so that all the resultant pressures cause the shoe to retain its original form without stretching or distorting the shoe in any way. It should be noted that the side membranes 312 are longer than the upper membrane 313 and extend towards the rear of the shoe beyond the toe portion.

The serpentine shank portion 315 has a substantial degree of flexibility horizontally to accommodate a num ber of shoe sizes. The sole engaging base portion 314 has a large central opening 319 to permit the upper member 313 to be molded, to lighten shoe tree and to save material. Upper ribs 320 reinforce and provide a greater degree of rigidity to the sole portion 314.

in using the shoe tree shown and described above, the flexible membranes are inserted in the toe of the shoe and the shank portion 315 is compressed towards the toe until it catches the back strap or seats itself within the heel of the shoe. Inserting the shoe tree within the shoe does not scrape or mar the inner walls or sole of the shoe and the shoe tree may be readily removed without marring of the shoe.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 8, the shoe tree is the same in all respects as the shoe tree shown and described in the previous figures, except that the end of the shank 415 terminates in a pair of opposed flexible arcuate membranes 416 to conform to the inside surface of the heel of a shoe and are sutficiently flexible to accommodate different widths and curvatures of heels to support and maintain the heels in their original shape.

All of the membranes heretofore mentioned and referred to have the greatest degree of flexibility at their free ends.

The shoe tree shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is another modification of the shoe tree shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive. except that the upper membrane 313 has been eliminated and the side membranes 312 have been made wider to afford support to a larger portion of the toe and vamp of the shoe. It comprises the longitudinal membrane 611, opposed side membranes 612, the serpentine shank portion 615 and the sole engaging base portion 614. The other parts and their operation are comparable to the shoe tree of Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive.

it is obvious that these shoe trees may be made in several sizes for use with mens, women's and children's shoes.

It is further obvious that several variations and modifications of these shoe trees may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is also obvious that while three membranes have been mentioned, multiple membranes in different relationships may be used without departing from the general spirit of the invention.

I claim:

I. In a shoe tree for a shoe, a sole engaging base memher in the form of a strip, a toe portion having a flexible top central membrane at the forward end oi said base member, and opposed side flexible membranes for supporting the vamp of a shoe, said opposed side membranes having free ends, said membranes having the greatest degree of flexibility upon the shoe at said free ends, and a shank member integral with said base member and er;- tending upwardly and rearwardly and downwardly and upwardly from the rear end of said base member, said shank member undulating and Wave-like in form terminating in an outwardly curved free end, said membranes adapted to engage the toe and vamp portions oi rid shoe and said shank member adapted to enga the l of said shoe by tension.

2. The shoe tree in accordance with claim l. wherein the free end of said shank member terminates in opposed flexible arcuate membranes, said areuate membrane:- when resiliently compressed for adaptability for different heel sizes exert pressure upon the inner sides of the heel of the shoe.

3. In a shoe tree for a shoe, a sole engaging base member in the form of a strip. a toe portion, opposed side flexible membranes for supporting the vamp of a shoe. said opposed side membranes having free ends, said membranes having the greatest degree oi flexibility upon the shoe at said 'free ends, said side membranes directed toward the central portion of the shoe tree, and a shank member integral with said base memher and extending upwardly and rearwardly and down \vardly and upwardly from the rear end of said base member, said side membranes adapted to engage the toe and vamp portions of a shoe when said shoe tree is inserted in a shoe, said shank member undulating and wave-like in form terminating in an outwardly curved free end and eompressibly resilient for adaptability to different shoe sizes, said free end of said shank member engaging the heel of said shoe by tension.

4. In a shoe tree for a shoe, a sole engaging base mem her in the form of a strip, a toe portion having a top ecntml. portion at the forward end of said base member, :In upper flexible membrane and opposed side flexible membranes for supporting the vamp of the shoe, and a resilient shank portion extending upwardly and rearwardly and downwardly and upwardly from the rear of said base member, said shank member undulating and *iliii in form, said opposed side membranes exerting free ends, said membranes having the greatest degree oi llexibility at said free ends, said upper membrane exending upwardly and rearwardly and terminating in a downwardly directed curved free end said free end of said upper membrane almost touching said shank portion, said shank portion when resiliently compressed for adaptability to difierent shoe sizes moves said upper flexible membrane forwardly and upwardly for support ing the vamp of the shoe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,l l L669 Lazarus Mar. 22, 1938 2,413,07l Rice Dec. 24, 1946 2,449,861 Renner Sept. 21, 1948 

